Photographing Benham Falls

Distance: 0.5 mile hike. Easily accessible trail with beautiful views of the Deschutes River. Varying falls and rapids. Connects to Dillon Falls and Central Bend if you desire a further hike. Close proximity to Bend, Oregon.

There are 2 starting points to access Benham Falls. The first is off of the Cascades Lakes Highway west of Bend, Oregon where, after 6.5 miles, you'll turn down Forest Road 41. After 3.5 miles, you'll see signs for Benham Falls where you turn left, traveling 2.5 miles on a bumpy and rocky road. This route parks you right at the falls. The other destination is off of Highway 97 11 miles south of Bend, Oregon. After exiting at the Lava Lands Visitor Center, you'll drive 4 miles on a paved road to a parking lot. From here, it's a .5 mile hike to the falls. This is my preferred route of entrance for easier driving, and a short hike in.

Starting at the parking lot, the Deschutes River flows peacefully alongside the long-needled pine forest. After .5 miles, the river turns into a series of rapids and falls, dropping 25 feet over the main section. The trail breaks off to sections where you are able to walk directly up to the falls, or continue to expansive views 30 or 40 feet above the river. There are several viewpoints for great photo opportunities, and when the water flow is low, you can walk out onto rock areas that are normally covered during certain times of the year.

If you are still feeling like hiking since the main attraction of Benham Falls is easy to access, you can continue down the river several miles to access Dillon Falls, which is another beautiful section of the Deschutes River surrounded by lava formations and smaller falls. The trail continues all the way into Bend, which gives hikers the unique ability to choose the length in which they would like to travel.

This trail is a great spot for families of all ages and easy to see with minimal planning. It is shared with a mountain biking trail, so be cautious of incoming bikers and do your best to keep the trails in groomed conditions.

Nearby Lodging

Reviews

This “falls”, is more of a serious rapid in the summer. Beware of the giant mosquitos that will chew you to bits!!! Lovely walk, would have been better had we dipped ourselves in Deet before embarking. The mosquitos even chewed through my dogs (pit bull) fur coats. These mosquitos give Alaskan mosquitos a good name. Coat yourself and any furry friends in Deet if you wish to survive unscathed.

For some reason, the directions on here were not helpful for me and my family. It took us way out of the way and took us an hour to find it. We just went this past weekend (summer) and we were a little disappointed because there were not any falls at all. The “falls” were just a bunch of rapids. It was beautiful but I was very misled into thinking there was a larger water fall. Also, my family and I got ATTACKED by mosquitos (15 bites just on 1 leg). If you go, bug spray is a must!